LB7 4 pin or 3 pin?

[Hedger]

I have an LB7 Schrade + four pin. I noticed there is an abundance of LB7 four pins available and less available in other models such as the 7OT. Is the four pin type more sought after or is a three pin of better design?

 

[thawk]

Not sure, but generally the four pins are older. I think there is an abundance of both. They made a bunch of this popular knife. The design is solid on both. I think the "older" is better might apply to some folks opinion.

 

[Codger_64]

I've owned and played with LB-7s from the first ones made (serialed under #400) to some of the last made, and there was not a lot of difference in fit and finish.

The number of pins was just a production change to simplify assembly. The 4th pin was a cover pin. It was removed from all knives in the pattern and then added back on the smooth Delrin knives because the delrin covers weren't held tight enough with only the three. That is why you will find the first scrims with four, then some with three, then the later ones with four. Evidenly that wasn't a problem with the more dimensionaly stable phenolic resin impregnated wood covers used on the production LB-7 since they stayed three pin from the change til the end.


As thawk suggested, since four pin indicates a generally older knife, some people value them more highly, particularly for collecting.

Michael